Beach speed risk

Concerns have been raised about the speeds of vehicles travelling near the entrance to Louth Bay beach, a popular destination and thoroughfare for families.

Lower Eyre Road Safety Committee chairman Laurie Collins said the committee received correspondence from a member of the community who was concerned about the speed of cars and motorbikes on the beach.

The default speed limit for beaches not adjacent to a built-up area is the default rural speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour.

However Mr Collins said the committee was concerned about people driving fast near children and families as it was a popular beach.

He said a speed limit for a zone starting at the entrance and continuing for half a kilometre was a reasonable request to ensure the safety of beachgoers.

A 25-kilometre sign has been installed at the entrance to the beach, however a Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure spokesman said the department did not install the sign.

Lower Eyre Peninsula District Council chief executive officer Rodney Pearson said the council did not install the sign either and did not know who had.

He said council could not change the speed limits of beaches and would need to seek approval from the department to alter the speed limit.

Mr Pearson said the council had received occasional queries about speed limits on the beach since the department erected signs at beach accesses advising road rules applied to beaches.

“Historically, the department have only considered a beach speed limit over a very short section, generally not covering the whole beach, and normally only within the town limit,” Mr Pearson said.

The department spokesman said a statewide review of beach speed limits was being undertaken.